City planners want changes to Dunes plan

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- Planning commissioners have instructed the planners of

the proposed $100-million Dunes hotel to explore the possibility of

relocating the resort to the other side of the bay, changing its entrance

to another street and lowering its height.

“We’re working on this,” said commissioner Mike Kranzley. “It’s not a

rubber stamp.”

The original project, approved more than 15 years ago, was for a 275-room

motel. However, commissioners found the newer proposal was of a much

higher standard and was of much better benefit to the community.

The new Dunes project includes a full-service hotel with 400 rooms and

100 time-share units, along with 55,000 square feet of conference space,

swimming pools, a health spa and restaurants. It is estimated that it

would bring $1.3-million in annual city revenue. If approved, the hotel

is scheduled to open within the next three to five years.

Dunes project manager Tim Quinn said he was very happy about the

commissioners’ decision that the proposed resort is superior to the

former project.

Still, commissioners were thorough and cautious regarding their

instructions to Dunes planners and city staff. Commissioner Anne Gifford

said her biggest problem was that Coast Highway was being used as a point

of entry. She also asked “could the hotel be better located on the other

side of the Bay?”

Other commissioners agreed that they were interested in using Backbay

Drive instead of Bayside Drive as an entrance to the resort.

But perhaps the biggest point of collective concern was the height of the

resort, which would be 12 feet above sea level. While they didn’t want to

destroy the integrity of the design, commissioners did want to explore

other possibilities to bring the building down to a more reasonable

height.

While the commissioners were cautious in their comments, local residents

were quick to give their support or opposition to the proposed resort.

The City Council chambers were packed with more than 100 community

members, leaving some sitting outside the doors listening.

Opinions on the project were split evenly.

Bayside resident Joyce Lawhorn opposed the project, saying no one would

feel the effects of the resort hotel more than her community, which sits

next to the site.

Residents from other surrounding communities also objected. While they

said they liked the project, some felt a large resort didn’t belong on

the shores of ecologically sensitive Newport Bay.

“While Annie Evans is a lovely, elegant lady, her hotels are not,” said

environmental activist Susan Caustin, referring to other lower-end

Evans-owned hotels that she and her husband, Bob, had visited.

However, there were an equal amount of people who gushed over the merits

of bringing to Newport Beach the type of hotel that has been compared to

the Ritz-Carlton. Some residents and local business leaders felt the

project would elevate both property values and the city’s image.

“We must compete with the surrounding communities,” said architect and

Economic Development Committee founder Rush Hill. “This site is the

appropriate place for a hotel.”

Quinn said he was pleased with both the turnout of supporters and the

commission’s decision, although he added that there would be a long road

ahead before any final decision is made on the resort.

“In terms of changing the entrance, it’s a topic that’s been discussed

before,” Quinn said. “We’ll be back with some more answers. We’re just

starting the public process. It’s their job to ask the hard questions.”

The topic will be continued at the next Planning Commission meeting Feb.

17.